CHAP. IV.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

139

1635

But a truce to all theological or civil squabbles!Here is what must eclipse them, and is more con-sonant with our order. The Turks are not slum-bering. On the 27th of March, 1635, comes adespatch from one of the chief ministers of the Kingof Spain, El Conde de Monte Rey, withintelligence of a large armament preparingin Constantinople, against, it is said, Persia, butperhaps against Malta; and if this last case turnedout, the grand master may be sure of succours beingready in Spain, and that they be sent instantly, andin sufficient number, and of artillery forthwith. 1Which may have roused the grand master into astill greater conviction of the necessity of hislabouring to remove every discontent from theminds of his people; so he wrote a letter to theemperor, supplicating his imperial majesty not tosend an ambassador to beg the Pope to yield grandcrosses of the order by dispense to some youngItalians, who have not the merits requisite; as isthe rumour amongst their language, to thegrievous dissatisfaction of all that body of knights. 2This, under date of the 15th of August,

1636. But on the 21st March of the nextyear, Cardinal Barberini, by the pontifical com-

1636

1 Cod. Dipl. Geros., ii., Num. ccciii.

2 Id., Id., Id ccciv.